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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STRUM, n.¹, v.², adj. Also strump. [strʌm]

I. n. 1. Also in pl. A fit of pique or bad humour, a perverse mood, a pet, the sulks, the huff (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., strumps; Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 269; Mry., Abd., Per. 1971), freq. in phr. to tak the strum(s). Adj. strummy, pettish, sulky (Abd. 1825 Jam.).Edb. 1788 J. Macaulay Poems 185:
The petty lads hae ta'en the strum, . . . Because we winna let them come.Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxxiv.:
Aye ready to tak the strums, an' ye dinna get a'thing yer ain wye.Lnk. 1824 Sc. Peasants xviii.:
Up he got in a strump, and stumped away.Sc. 1828 M. & M. Corbett Tales and Leg. 370:
Whatna strum is this ye hae ta'en, then?Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 12:
Tho' common-sense sud tak' the strums.Fif. 1896 D. S. Meldrum Grey Mantle 61:
The young laird has left. Some strum I suppose.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd viii:
I'll better awa' tae my bed, an nae argifie the pint farrer wi' ye, seein' ye're on the strums.

2. A quarrel, a tiff.Abd. 1874 W. Scott Dowie Nicht 39:
A hid hid a strum we ma ain lass Jinse.

II. v. To sulk, to take the huff, to look surly (Abd., Ags., Fif. 1971).Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 132:
Strummin' about a gill we're lag.

III. adj. Sulky, sullen, pettish (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).